Serving apparatus.



No. 655,l96. Patented Aug. 7, I900. W. C. CHURCH & J. B. MAHANA.

SERVING APPARATUS.

(Application filed. July 17, 1899.)

(-No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM c. CHURCH, or VP'OIRJTLAND, onne'on, AND JOHN B. MAHANA, or

SILVER LAKE,

WAS INGTON.

SERVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,196, dated August 7, 1900.

I Application filed July 1'7, 1399; Serial No. 724,163- (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that we, WILLIAM C. CHURCH,

residing at Portland, in the county of Mult nomah and State of Oregon, and JOHN B. MA- ,HANA, residing at Silver Lake, in the county of Oowlitz and State of Washington, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cases for which astrip of stamps or tickets may be con- 1 tained and from which it may be fed out through oneend of the case to project the stamps or tickets one at a time in a uniform manner and permit the projected stamps or tickets to be easily and expeditiously severed.

With these objects in view the invention consists of the novel features of construction of the case and the feed mechanism, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved case for stamps, tickets, Ate. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the parts in position to project a stamp or ticket. similar view showing the parts in their nor mal positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line a: a; of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable end closure in which the rolled strip of stamps or tickets is supported.

The-top of the case is indicated by 1 and thesides by 2. The sides taper from their rear to their front ends, as shown, so that the rear end of the case is deeper than the front end. The bottom is madein two sections, indicated by 3 and 4, the former being rigidly secured to the sides. The section 4 is provided with an upwardly projecting ear 5 at each edge, and pins 6 connect these ears to the sides2 and form pivots upon which the section 4 may be rocked. The rear end of the section 4 is offset, as indicated at 7, in

Fig. 3 is a' order that it may overlap the section 3, and

the bottom will present a straight exterior V 7 surface when the section 4 is in its normal position. i

8 indicates a diaphragm rigidly secured to the sides 2 to leave a space between it and the top of thecase.

diaphragm is bent downwardly at substantially a right angle to form the vertical support 9, which is secured at its lower end to the fixed section 3 of the bottom. An offset The rear portion of the 10 is formed in the support 9, which forms a stop for the rear end of the section 4 to limit 'its upward movement. A spring 11 is interposed between the diaphragm 8 and the section 4 of the bottom in rear of the ears 5 and normally tends to hold the section 4 in engagement with the section 3, as shown in Fig. 3.

The diaphragm 8 terminates at its front end a short distance in rear of the front end of the top 1, and a block 12, preferably of rubber or leather, is secured to the forward end of the section 4 of the bottom and forms a closure for the front end of the case, its outer face being flush with the front edge of the top.

The front portion of the diaphragm S will preferably be bent upwardly, as at 13, in order to reduce the space between it and the top of the case at the delivery end, and the diaphragm in rear of the bend 13 will preferably be parallel to the top 1.

The closure for the rear end of the case consists of a plate 14, with an inwardlyprojecting flange 15 around its edges, adapted to fit' snugly but removably in the rear end of the case. A finger-hold 16, preferably in the form of a ring, will be secured to the plate 14. The vertical flanges of the plate 14 are extended forwardly to form ears 17, which are perforated to receive the end spindles 18 of areel 19, on which the strip of stamps or tickets 20 is wound. Aspring 21 is secured 1 at one end to the plate 14, and its free end is adapted to engage the strip and prevent it accidentally unwinding from the reel.

The top 1 of the case is provided with a slot 22, through which a pin 23 extends. This pin is rigidly secured at its inner end to a presserplate 24, adapted to engage the strip and feed 1 it along on top of the diaphragm 8. The lower y chimes with a coating of rubber or similar substance to insure suflicient friction to move I the strip positively and uniformly. Instead of having the rubber coating the lower surface of the plate maybe abraded, as will be readily understood. The pin 23 also passes through a washer 26, which is supported to slide on the outer surface of the top 1, and a coiled spring 27 encircles the pin and seats at its upper end against the head 28 of the pin and at its lower end on said washer 26. This spring 27 normally holds the plate 24 against the under surface ofthe top 1 and out of contact with the strip. Another coiled spring 29 is secured at one end to the rear end of the plate 24 and at its other end to the case, and normally holds the plate 24 at the extremity of its rearward movement.

The strip of stamps or ticketswill first be wound onthe reel, and its loose end be introduced between the diaphragm 8 and the presser-plate, after which the flanged plate will be fitted into the end of the case.

strip will then be moved through the case until the edge of a'stamp or ticket is at the front end of the-case, and the parts being in their normal-positions the end of the strip will be clamped between the upper faceof" the-block 12 and the under face of the top 1'. The slot 22 isdesigned to be just long enough to permit the pin 23 in moving from one end of the slot to the other to move the presserplate sufiiciently to force the strip forwardly to project one stamp or ticket'and no more, leaving the perforations in the strip just under the front edge of the top 1, which edge will serve as a cutter to sever the projected stamp. To project a stamp or ticket, the rear end of the section 4 of the bottom is pushed inwardly, which will result in moving the block 12 out of contact with the strip, when by pushing the headed pin 23 inwardly and then forwardly the presser-plate will engage the strip and carry it forward the desired distance. On releasing the section 4 the spring llwill return it to its normal position and the block 12 will engage the strip and hold it firmly while the projected portion is severed. On removing the pressure from the pin 23 the spring 27 will elevate the presser-plate from the strip and the spring 29 will retract it to its normal position. If it is desired to project two or more stamps or tickets before severing'thern the presser-plate must be operated once for each stamp or ticket, as will-be readily understood. I

The case may be made of any suitable metal and may be ornamented in any manner preferred, and as it will not be very large it may be Worn as an ornament or carried in the pocket, if desired. The device will efiectually protect the stamps or tickets from moisture or injury of any kind and will be found very convenient.

It is to be understood that changes the I form, proportions, or other minor detailsof construction may be resorted to without de- The parting fromv the spirit or sacrificing'any of the advantages of our invention. 7 p

Having described the invention, we claim 1. A stamp or ticket case having a removable end closure forming a support for a rolled strip of stamps or tickets, a spring-pressed movable closure for the other or delivery end, and means to feed the strip from the reel through the delivery end, substantially as described.

2. A stamp or ticket case having means to support a rolled strip of stamps or tickets in its rear end, and having its bottom formed in part of a hinged plate, a block carried by the plate and forming a'movable end closure, means to yieldingly hold the block in its closing position, and means to-feed' the strip through the end of which the block is the movable. closure, substantiallyv as'described.

- In alstamp or ticket case, the combination with the sides and top of the case, of a bottom formed in two sections, the rear section being firmly secured to the sides and the ri ed by the front end of the pivoted plate to form a. movable end closure for the case, a spring to yieldinglyhold-the block in its closing position, a rolled stripof stamps or tickets strip between the roll and delivery end, a-

presser-plate yieldingly supportedabove the strip and diaphragm anddepress'ible and movable to engage the strip and feed-itforward toward the delivery end, and means to move the closure at the delivery end of the case to permit the strip to pass through, substantially as described.

5. In a stamp or ticket case the' combina- 9 forward section pivoted thereto, a block cartion with the outer casing havinga slotted top and a supporting-diaphragm for the strip of stamps ortickets within the casing below the top, of a presser plate above the diaphragm, a headed pin connected to the diaphragm and extending through the slot in the top of the casing, a washer supported on the top and through which the said pin passes, a

spring interposed between the said washer and the head of the pinto normally hold the plate out of engagement withthe strip, and a spring connect-ing the rear end of the presser-plate with the casing to normally retract the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we afiix oursignatures in presence of twowit-nessesr WILLIAM C. CHURCH.

- 7 JOHN B. MAHANA.

Witnesses: 7

' CHAS. W. 'KIMBALL,

' JOHN POOLE.- 

